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Author Topic:  Billy Bob Thornton - The Boxmasters
Ron !

 

Post  Posted 28 Sep 2008 3:36 pm    
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Well we all complain about not enough steel guitar in modern country and every now and then there is an artist that has the guts to do it.
I did not even know that Billy Bob Thornton was into country and watched his video on CMT yesterday.
Not a real bright song but I have to give the man credit where credit is due.

Here is the video.There might be a little annoying MTV clip in the beginning and I cannot really say I like the announcers language so be warned about that.It is censored but nevertheless...I don't like it.

Poor House<---click
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Stephen Gambrell

 

From:
Over there
Post  Posted 28 Sep 2008 6:36 pm    
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Pedal steel parts on a Stringmaster---Pretty good. And I'd imagine Billy Bob wrote that intro. Remember, he was walking into the Oscars, and told one of the announcers, "we f***ed in the limo on the way here."
Billy Bob is a decent actor, given the right movie. He's not a country singer or writer---Just another wannabe. Dumb song, dumb video.
No offense...
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Dave Mudgett


From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
Post  Posted 28 Sep 2008 9:51 pm    
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I dunno - I kinda' like it for what it is, which is sorta' retro west-coast alt-country-rockabilly, not really any kind of mainstream country thing at all. I like the bouncy feel of the tune, the playing, and the clean arrangement and recording - yeah, the canned-clapping is annoying, but doesn't drive me to distraction - it fits with the schtick.

Of course, I'd much rather see a vid of the real band actually playing - with a pedal steel and not a Stringmaster. But I think the kids they're aiming this at expect this kind of stuff. I doubt they remotely care what old pharts like us (i.e., anybody over 30) think.

It's MTV - I'll bet this is, by far, the best thing on MTV right now. ... and I don't have to be reminded about just how awful MTV is these days.
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Stephen Gambrell

 

From:
Over there
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2008 5:25 am    
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Dave Mudgett wrote:
I dunno - I kinda' like it for what it is, which is sorta' retro west-coast alt-country-rockabilly, not really any kind of mainstream country thing at all. I like the bouncy feel of the tune, the playing, and the clean arrangement and recording - yeah, the canned-clapping is annoying, but doesn't drive me to distraction - it fits with the schtick.



Dave, I agree with you on most things musical, but if you've gotta use that many modifiers/qualifiers in describing Billy Bob's stuff, and STILL have to call it "schtick," then I think it fits my description fairly well.
Gotta run. Wal-Mart's having a sale on Minnie Driver's new CD. (And it has steel, too)
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Jody Cameron

 

From:
Angleton, TX,, USA
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2008 5:50 am    
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Well, since I'm a huge fan of retro-60's stuff, Billy Bob Thornton, and certainly classic pedal steel guitar, I have to LOVE this! Very Happy Thanks, Ron
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Skip Edwards

 

From:
LA,CA
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2008 7:54 am    
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That's Marty Rifkin in the video. I'm not sure, but I think he played on the track. Obviously a pedal steel on the track...if it's Marty, it would most likely have been his Legrande III.
As far as the Stringmaster, I do gigs with Marty now & then and that's what he usually plays...very well, I might add.
Too bad the only way a steel - pedal or not - can find it's way onto MTV is when it's presented as schtick. But, given the rest of the nonsense that's on MTV, maybe it's better that way.
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Steve Norman


From:
Seattle Washington, USA
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2008 8:32 am    
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what may happen with this is an introduction of this type of music to new musicians and kids. Its a good thing, and Billy Bob is from Arkansas so at least the accent is real.
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Dave Mudgett


From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2008 9:40 am    
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Quote:
... STILL have to call it "schtick,"

Yes Steve - it has a strong schtick component. I agree that this can sometimes be very annoying, since it can easily be interpreted as a mockery of the style. No doubt they hope the schtick gets listeners who wouldn't listen to a serious version to connect to it on that level.

To me, not all schtick is bad. I can think of some other music that I like that also has some serious schtick interspersed - some of the output of people like Zappa, Dan Hicks, Commander Cody, as well as David Johansen's jump-blues stuff come to mind. The Notorious Cherry Bombs song "It's Hard to Kiss the Lips at Night That Chew Your Ass Out All Day Long" is sorta' in the same vein. The whole late-90s swing/jump-blues craze is another example - some of it was cool, and some seemed purely trying to find a way to cash in with something "different" to a younger audience.

I have to confess that I generally prefer just hearing people "play it straight" and let the chips fall where they may. But it is show-biz, and I guess I'm desensitized somewhat to this type of posturing for marketing purposes.
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Steve Norman


From:
Seattle Washington, USA
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2008 9:45 am    
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not to many good live recordings yet,,but in this one the steel is prominent!

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=bQwxsinLq6o&feature=related
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Steve Norman


From:
Seattle Washington, USA
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2008 9:46 am    
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just found this one,,explains a lot

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=vNtl-ZCffMM
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Stephen Gambrell

 

From:
Over there
Post  Posted 29 Sep 2008 12:26 pm    
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I'll take Unknown Hinson over 'at mess anytime.
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